Disney Cruise Line introduced the acquisition of {a partially} accomplished new ship that can be a part of the DCL fleet and sail to new world locations. Disney will work with Meyer Werft to finish the cruise ship beforehand often called the Global Dream in Wismar, Germany. In this submit, we share particulars and temporary commentary about DCL including yet one more ship to its rising roster.
According to Disney Cruise Line, the Global Dream ship will probably be renamed with sure options reimagined beneath the experience of Walt Disney Imagineers. The reimagined Global Dream is predicted to set sail in 2025.
“Our cruise ships give us the unique opportunity to bring Disney magic to fans no matter where they are, and the addition of this ship will make a Disney Cruise Line vacation accessible to more families than ever before,” mentioned Josh D’Amaro, chairman, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products.
The new ship will probably be based mostly exterior the United States, in line with Disney Cruise Line. The reimagined Global Dream will function typical DCL experiences together with themed-entertainment, eating, and visitor service that set Disney Cruise Line aside. The exterior will probably be adorned within the iconic, Mickey Mouse-inspired colours of the fleet, full with signature crimson funnels.
The 208,000-gross-ton ship is predicted to be among the many first within the cruise {industry} to be fueled by inexperienced methanol, one of many lowest emission fuels accessible. Disney Cruise Line expects the passenger capability to be roughly 6,000 plus round 2,300 crew members.
Construction on reimagining the Global Dream will probably be accomplished on the former MV Werften shipyard in Wismar, Germany, beneath the administration of Meyer Werft, the Papenburg-based firm that constructed the Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy and Disney Wish. The Global Dream’s earlier proprietor filed for chapter earlier than finishing the vessel, and rumors have been swirling since then that Disney was in negotiations to buy the partially-completed ship.
According to the corporate’s press launch, this enabled Disney Cruise Line to safe it at a good value and inside the capital expenditure steering the Walt Disney Company supplied on its latest earnings name. (This element is definitely in DCL’s press launch–I’ve by no means seen one thing like this from Disney directed in direction of a consumer-facing viewers.) The undertaking additionally secures employment for lots of of former MV Werften workers and can present alternatives for quite a few maritime {industry} suppliers within the area.
More particulars concerning the maiden voyage, itineraries and onboard experiences will probably be introduced at a later date. Currently, the Disney Cruise Line fleet sails to locations within the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Europe, Alaska, Mexico, Canada, Hawaii and the South Pacific. Disney Cruise Line not too long ago introduced first-ever holidays for company in Australia and New Zealand starting in late 2023.
When the development on the Global Dream stopped in early 2022, the 208,000 GT Global Dream was roughly 75% completed, with intentions of setting sail this yr. The cruise ship measures 342 meters (1,122 ft) in size, and is to be the sixth largest cruise ship on the planet when completed. (Suffice to say, the Global Dream is considerably bigger than the present DCL fleet.)
The Global Dream cruise ship was designed to hold as much as 9,000 passengers in sure configurations. According to German media, the ship was to have 2,500 cabins, permitting it to sail with roughly 5,000 passengers with the {industry} customary of two per cabin. However, its complete capability might accommodate nearly double that quantity. It’s unclear how DCL will reconfigure rooms to succeed in its 6,000 passenger quantity within the press launch.
The ship was initially meant for the Asian market, and was meant for Genting Hong Kong earlier than that firm went bankrupt in January of this yr. That’s the biggest Asian cruise operator, and meant the top of operations for Dream Cruises, Star Cruises, and Crystal Cruises. Since then, each Dream and Crystal Cruises have resumed operations beneath new possession.
As the Global Dream was initially meant for the Asian market, and was particularly constructed to sail inside Asia, it was slated to have quite a lot of options and facilities aimed toward that viewers. It’s unclear what, if something, Disney Cruise Line will change concerning the Global Dream’s format or lineup of facilities. The most notable of those is the world’s longest curler coaster at sea.
The Global Dream is the biggest cruise ship to ever be constructed by passenger quantity, nevertheless it has sat untouched within the shipyard in Germany since January of this yr. Originally, it was anticipated to have problem discovering a purchaser exterior the Asia market and there have been rumors that it will be bought for scrap metallic. (Seriously–a neighborhood politician mentioned this to German media: “It is a very different picture psychologically if this large ship is finished in Wismar than if it were towed out there and scrapped somewhere in the world.”)
The Disney Cruise Line fleet at the moment consists of the Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, and Disney Wish (which debuted this yr). The sixth ship within the Disney Cruise Line fleet, the Disney Treasure, will set sail in 2024. Disney Cruise Line’s fleet will finally develop to eight cruise ships with the acquisition of the Global Dream and one other Triton Class cruise ship on the way in which, which doesn’t seem like impacted by the acquisition of the Global Dream (presumably as a result of it’s already been contracted-for?).
In phrases of commentary, I don’t have a lot so as to add. My experience is rather more restricted on the subject of the cruise {industry}, so I don’t actually need to step exterior my consolation zone and opine in ways in which could possibly be “wrong.” I’ll say that this looks like a whole lot of enlargement for Disney Cruise Line , and with out seeing the precise market urge for food for extra of its ships. (It’s one factor to have surveys and inside projections about client demand and model energy–it’s one other solely to decide to constructing ships.)
From that perspective, the strategy to DCL fleet enlargement doesn’t appear in line with Disney’s regular methodical decision-making course of. I assumed that earlier than with the announcement of the three new ships , and this solely reinforces that in a very giant method. Perceptions of cruising might change with youthful generations, and there appears to be an amazing quantity of industry-wide enlargement occurring in response to Baby Boomer demand–however that viewers received’t be the first demographic for cruising for much longer.
This shouldn’t be the conventional dialog about pent-up demand or a possible recession. I additionally don’t assume it’s notably related that the Disney Wish has already been providing reductions, as the present local weather continues to be very removed from regular for cruising. What’s occurring proper now and even within the subsequent 2-3 years doesn’t actually matter. These ships are coming on-line just a few years from now and are being constructed for many years. It’s long run traits, demographics, and industry-wide competitors (and notion of cruising) that actually issues. Near-term circumstances are nothing greater than noise.
But once more, I don’t know a lot concerning the cruise enterprise and its future. This could possibly be completely off-base, and cruising might change into extra in style than ever with Millennials and youthful generations. Regardless, it appears the {industry} has entered a part of less-than measured development with no excessive diploma of certainty what the panorama (or seascape?) will appear like a decade from now.
As for the ship itself, it’s fairly giant and appears at odds with the present Disney Cruise Line product. However, if it’s meant to sail completely in Asia and have little-to-no overlap with the present DCL ships, which may probably not matter. While we followers are inclined to fixate on these things, the sensible actuality is that the overwhelming majority of customers by no means see what’s exterior of their residence market.
To that time, Shanghai Disneyland is very totally different from the standard fortress park, nevertheless it’s unusual to see comparisons between Walt Disney World and Shanghai Disneyland (in contrast to the Disneyland v. WDW debate, which is neverending) as a result of few followers have skilled each. In the true world, they merely aren’t competing–and even complementary–merchandise.
Outside of the .0001% of tremendous followers, most customers won’t expertise each. The similar logic probably applies to the Global Dream as in comparison with the Disney Wish and different present cruise ships. Then once more, I believe the Disney Wish is already the Shanghai Disneyland of DCL, so it’ll be attention-grabbing to see simply how a lot the reimagined Global Dream deviates from the acquainted method of Disney Cruise Line.
Regardless of all this, Disney’s acquisition of the Global Dream is extremely fascinating to me. It looks like a transfer that’s atypical of the corporate, and rather more aggressive than what we’ve seen in recent times from the Parks & Resorts phase. That’s not essentially an excellent or unhealthy factor by itself–all of it relies upon upon the underlying rationale of the choice and execution thereof. It’ll be actually fascinating to look at how this performs out, each within the subsequent few years with the reimagining of the Global Dream, and within the long-term with Disney Cruise Line as an entire. We’ll maintain you posted!
Planning to set sail aboard one of many DCL ships? Read our complete Disney Cruise Line Guide to organize on your voyage, plus plan leisure, actions & excursions, and be taught what to anticipate out of your Disney cruise! For customized planning & suggestions, click on right here to get a cruise quote from a no-fee Authorized Disney Vacation Planner. They can discover you the entire present reductions, and enable you plan the small print of your cruise!
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you consider Disney Cruise Line buying the partially-completed Global Dream ship? Think this can be a good addition to the fleet or at-odds with the present ships? Confident that Imagineering can remodel this right into a ‘Distinctly Disney’ (Cruise Line) ship, or assume it’ll stand out from the remainder? Thoughts on DCL’s plans for development and enlargement? Do you agree or disagree with our assessments? Any questions? Hearing suggestions about your experiences is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!